Like the Senate race, Republicans expect the primary to proceed to an August runoff, which occurs when no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote. The GOP nominee is all but certain to come to Congress and represent this strong conservative district based in Oklahoma City.

The diverse GOP field includes a decorated veteran who helped capture Saddam Hussein, an Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, a wealthy state legislator who would be the youngest member of Congress if elected, a powerful appropriator in the state Senate, a Baptist pastor and a former state legislator who lost a race for this district in 2010.

“Any of the six could wind up in the runoff,” Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Dave Weston said. “There’s a couple that are probably more likely for that to happen because they are doing TV and have more signs out, but at this point, no one is breaking 20 percent.”

Some GOP operatives said there are two candidates more likely to make the runoff: Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglas and former state Sen. Steve Russell.

Douglas has a built-in base as a former mayor from Edmond, the population center of the district just north of Oklahoma City. She also raised more than $550,000 for the race, including help from some House GOP women.

Russell is also a strong contender for the seat, Oklahoma Republican strategists said. The veteran was part of the unit who captured Hussein in Iraq in 2003.

“Everyone can get excited about a soldier. But a soldier who was part of the platoon who went in and pulled Saddam out of the hole — that’s picked up some traction,” said Bobby Stem, a Republican lobbyist in Oklahoma.

Also in contention are state Rep. Mike Turner and state Sen. Clark Jolley.

Turner has largely self-funded his campaign, putting in $625,000 of his own personal fortune for the race. With an estimated net worth of at least $3.55 million, Turner, 27, would be both the richest and the youngest member of the Oklahoma delegation if elected.

State Senate Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley, one of the most powerful members of the Legislature, is in the mix. GOP operatives say Jolley, who is also from Edmond, is vying for the same pool of voters as Douglas, which could be problematic for him.

Two other candidates are also running: Baptist pastor Harvey Sparks and former state Rep. Shane Jett, who lost in a primary for the seat in 2010. Neither has raised much money and are not expected to make the runoff.

The 5th District voted for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney with 59 percent in 2012.

Oklahoma’s 5th District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.

More from At the Races

“Part of a unit that captured Saddam Hussein?” Lt Col Steve Russell was commander of a battalion of 1,000 soldiers & task force that tracked him down, pulled him out of a rat hole, and delivered him to the Iraqi people for justice to be served. He is a no nonsense type guy, and will make a great Congressman for the state of Oklahoma.

Ashley Torres

No he was not! 1-22 (the unit he commanded) was not there when Saddam was captured. Actually, his boss (COL Hickey) was. Russell does give the illusion he was there that night, though. After being captured, he was put on a helo and taken to 4th ID HQ’s. Russell took no part in the capture of Saddam that night.

This is history ! History that Lt Col Russell and the men he commanded made. I do not recall having worked with you. So I have no idea who you are. You were NOT in our unit. So either you are some one working for his opponents or .. ??? Honestly I have no idea what your intent is. But You can not claim to have worked with Lt Col Russell and say he is not a man of honor and respect ! This fact is documented … Get your facts straight !

Ashley Torres

I can’t claim that? The hell I can’t and he is not. And the few facts I pointed out are straight. You were at the Birthday Palace. How much time did you actually get to spend around Russell. I am guess not that much.

Samual Siqueido

Clearly Ashley torres does not know what she is talking about!!!

Ashley Torres

Clearly? You should read everything on this thread. Love the 3 exclamation points, though.

Brandon Lloyd

Mrs Torres I was there that night. How do you think we got the intel on where he was hiding. It was a village round up in Al Ojah. If you think a Bde Commander has more up to the minute intel than that of a BN Commander your incorrect 95% of the time. LTC Russell was the one leading from the front by walking and patrolling the streets beside his troops and not from his desk. Im a wounded warrior and retiree who served under many BN commanders. Steve Russell is the best Ive encountered in my career. Not sure if you have something personal against him but your facts are way off. No disrespect intended, I just know what I saw daily.

Ashley Torres

BDE HQ was right by Ouja. Yes, we sealed Ouja up tight – no one in or out. Yes, we ID’d everyone and created a data base. That was not when we got the intel, though. It may seem like I have something personal, but I have never come forward during any of his other war profiteering – not even when he ran for state senate. But now he is running for the U.S. Congress and the people need to know the real man and what to expect from him if they do decide to elect him.

Ashley Torres

Message for Steve Russell (and anyone considering supporting him)…

You retired from the Army the 1st chance you got. Why? Because you wanted to cash in on being in Saddam’s hometown (Tikrit). You immediately started on your book and charging for speaking engagements. You also started Victory for Vets which was just another rouse for promoting yourself. You were then elected to state senate. One term? You didn’t seek reelection? If you really are for the people of Oklahoma, then why not continue to serve them? Because you needed to start a business with at least a few employees so you could use the line “…came home and met a payroll” in your campaign add. Of course, the business was inspired by your time in Iraq. No surprise there.

You started planning for post retirement the day you took over 1-22. You risked American Soldiers lives to make yourself look good. You would even delay SP times if all of the reporters weren’t there on time. No stolen valor here, I was there. We all hated how you would pose for pictures and the agreement you had with the reporters that if you took them along on all of your patrols, they had to give you every single picture they took; material for your book and other post retirement money making opportunities? Of course it was. We all suspected it, so your actions post retirement were no surprise.

Why do you allow the illusion that you were there when Saddam was actually captured? People, the picture of Russell by the spider-hole was taken roughly a couple days later. Why did you falsify incident reports to higher HQ’s on several occasions? To save your image? Is that what you would do in Congress? Did your S2 really deserve the Purple Heart for getting shot by his own people? After all, he was on an unauthorized mission outside the FOB, dressed in Iraqi clothing and driving a confiscated civilian car. Had to protect your image? How about those company leaders (that you directly supervised) that were stealing money from Iraqi’s when they went on raids of peoples homes? There were no consequences for their actions. The list is long, but I will save the rest for another time. You may have some fooled, but there are many of us that know the truth.

You are not what this country needs in Congress. You love fame and money. You love being on TV & radio. You constantly seek the spotlight and look for opportunities to make as much as you can off your time in Iraq, because you know that well will run dry, eventually. Just what we need, another Congressman looking to be on TV all the time.

People – DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS GUY! I served with him and he is not for the people. He is for himself. I have to admit, though, he has planned this last decade out pretty well. Guess he forgot to factor in all those who know he is completely full of crap. With all the crap going on in Washington, do we really want another self-serving politician who cares more about notoriety than he does about the people he is supposed to serve? I hope not. Don’t waste your vote on Russell – make it count. Let’s hear LTG Dupree defend anything I’ve written since he didn’t serve with you in Iraq.

I am all for capitalism, but you are making your money off your poor leadership and you risked Soldiers lives, unnecessarily, to create material for your post retirement activities. I wouldn’t vote for you and I hope no one else does. Again, we don’t need another self-serving politician in Washington who is willing to cover up things to make himself look good. We have enough of them in Washington already. You would only add to the problems we have in Washington, not fix them.

Noble McIntyre

All one has to do is read the hundreds of posts by soldiers under Russell’s command to know Torres is a fraud. I know Steve Russell personally. He was my Sunday school teacher for years and is a Godly man who is honest as they come. Folks don’t buy the ramblings of a sub par soldier with an obvious agenda. The kind of guy who lies when the truth would serve better is suspect to all – even is own family and brothers in battle. But don’t take my word for it – google Russell. Read what others including his own soldiers, major news agencies such as Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal and other American leaders say. Then decide.

Out of the task force he commanded you will find a lot of people who would say good things. There are also a lot that won’t. Of course he isn’t going to post a campaign video with those Soldiers. Most Soldiers under his command never met him personally, spent any time with him, and never even went to battalion headquarters.

Actual 1-22 Vet

LTC Russell led from the front meaning you were more likely to see him patrolling the streets with his men than you were to find him sitting behind his desk at the BN HQ. He got to know a lot of his soldiers and wept for any he lost. Let’s be honest though when you command over 2000 SOLDIERS you aren’t going to invite each one individually to your office for tea time with the local elders.

Ashley Torres

Ahhh, so it’s 2000 now? And we all wept for the Soldiers we lost. I attend the funerals to include the big one at the Birthday Palace. I stand by my posts as they are facts.

Mathew Prahl

I will admit that I wasn’t at that memorial service. I was on top of the police station in an observation post (OP).
I do not think that LTC Russell has ever over stated his role in OIF. Another good block to read is Hunting Down Saddam by Robin Moore. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0312329164/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
The second half of the book is practically LTC Russell’s diary, written during his time in Iraq. If you can read that and still say that LTC Russell did not lead from the front for the sake of his troops, I would question your ability to judge character.

Ashley Torres

People have the illusion that he was there when they pulled him out. I couldn’t care about what his diary says. I was there and say more than my fair share of cover-ups & lies sent to higher HQ’s so he could protect his image. He was smart, though. Even then he was preparing for what is happening now.

Ashley Torres

Let’s set the record strait. I am not and so not know Griffin, Turner or Stem. I made public specific facts that only someone that was with him in Iraq would know. Nothing I put in my write-up is false. His post retirement timeline for the past decade has been him dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s in preparation for getting to Washington. His actions while in Tikrit was him preparing to for his post retirement and he risked lives to do it. After all, he couldn’t leave the FOB by himself. He covered up a lot of stuff in Iraq. False INSUM’s were reported to brigade & division HQ’s. He did a lot of things to both enhance his image and protect it and he has and will lie to do it. Since I am not interested in writing a book, also, I only name a few things in my write-up. I can list plenty more. You can vote for whomever you like, that is your choice. Just know who you are really voting for. We DO NOT need another self-serving politician in Washington, D.C. and that is exactly what he is. Use some critical thinking. Follow his timeline post-retirement and watch how he groomed himself to to run for U.S. Congress and the things he did to do it. Look at how much time he spent on local and national television. He has ulterior motives and anyone that just takes a couple of minutes to break it down will see it, too. Lastly, I purposely left names out of my write-up and used positions like “S2″ & “company leaders” because I don’t feel they need to be brought up by name. I look forward to Russell disputing my claims. If he does, then spell it all out in much, much more detail. Then y’all can decide again. Like I said, I am all for capitalism, but he is capitalizing on his tour in Iraq. I have a problem with that because he risked Soldiers lives to get awards (Bronze Star with V device), to get pictures and to get other material for his career after his service. His command was self-serving, his post retirement career has been self-serving and I guarantee that if he does get to the U.S. Congress he will continue to be self-serving.

Noble McIntyre

Lol – you just posted the same response as Ashley and as Guest. Just use your real name like I do – it’s easier. And it’s “straight” not “strait”. As a press guy you should know that. You sure seem to know a lot about Steve Russell and his time in Iraq – funny no Ashley Torres served in Iraq under Steve. Go check the government records. Nope – no Ashley Torres at all. The problem with lying is there are too many ways for it all to unwind. This is like watching a train wreck.

Ashley Torres

I sure did. I knew someone would not dispute the facts of my post and instead, would point out a grammatical error. So I removed the grammatical error. So, you say I am lying? Tell us all exactly which parts are lies. I would love for you to find fault in my facts. Apparently you were there, too, so do you want to offer your rebuttal on behalf of Russell? Just for the record I will tell y’all again that I am not Griffin, Turner or Stem, nor do I know them. You probably shouldn’t bring them into it since they have nothing to do with my factual posts.

Noble McIntyre

Everyone on this link knows you are a fraud. You aren’t even who you claim to be. You were never in Iraq – nobody that was there has ever heard of you. You have an agenda because your candidate is in 4th place and you want to steal some votes away from Steve. Your con job has failed

Ashley Torres

I didn’t claim to be anyone. I only said who I was not. You can bash me all you want and talk your crap. People are smart enough to read through it make their own decisions. Everything I stated is fact. Instead of bashing me why don’t you disprove me? Oh, you can’t.

Noble McIntyre

Lol – everything you have stated is a lie not fact. Go ahead – put it all to rest – post your service record indicating when exactly you were In Iraq and where you served. Tell us – when did you serve with Steve, under Steve or even near Steve? What unit were you in? We will all wait patiently.

Ashley Torres

Like I said, you can’t. Prove it is all a lie? Patiently waiting…

Noble McIntyre

Did I miss where you answered the questions? Go ahead – tell is all what unit your where in. Not one person remembers you – not one – but post your unit and a single picture of you in uniform in Iraq. Just one. Come on – you can do it. We are all waiting and waiting and waiting. What unit and when exactly were you there? You can’t answer because you weren’t AND your name isn’t even Ashley. Con

Ashley Torres

Let’s set the record straight. I am not and do not know Griffin,
Turner or Stem. I made public specific facts that only someone that was
with him in Iraq would know. Nothing I put in my write-up is false.
His post retirement timeline for the past decade has been him dotting
all the I’s and crossing all the T’s in preparation for getting to
Washington. His actions while in Tikrit was him preparing to for his
post retirement and he risked lives to do it. After all, he couldn’t
leave the FOB by himself. He covered up a lot of stuff in Iraq. False
INSUM’s were reported to brigade & division HQ’s. He did a lot of
things to both enhance his image and protect it and he has and will lie
to do it. Since I am not interested in writing a book, also, I only
name a few things in my write-up. I can list plenty more. You can vote
for whomever you like, that is your choice. Just know who you are
really voting for. We DO NOT need another self-serving politician in
Washington, D.C. and that is exactly what he is. Use some critical
thinking. Follow his timeline post-retirement and watch how he groomed
himself to to run for U.S. Congress and the things he did to do it.
Look at how much time he spent on local and national television. He has
ulterior motives and anyone that just takes a couple of minutes to
break it down and lay it out will see it, too. Lastly, I purposely left names out of
my write-up and used positions like “S2″ & “company leaders” because
I don’t feel they need to be brought up by name. I look forward to
Russell disputing my claims. If he does, then I’ll spell it all out in much,
much more detail. Then y’all can decide again. Like I said, I am all
for capitalism, but he is capitalizing on his tour in Iraq. I have a
problem with that because he risked Soldiers lives to get awards (Bronze
Star with V device), to get pictures and to get other material for his
career after his service. His command was self-serving, his post
retirement career has been self-serving and I guarantee that if he does
get to the U.S. Congress he will continue to be self-serving. Sure, on the surface he looks like a great leader, but rest assured, once you take a moment and see the real man you will see he is just like the very same self-serving politicians we are trying to replace. Make your vote count. A vote for Russell is a waste. Be an informed voter – scratch the surface a little.

Actual 1-22 Vet

Name one person with political aspirations who doesn’t cross the t’s and for the i’s to actually get elected. You are trashing a good man who would well represent Oklahoma well in the US Senate and not just Oklahoma the people. Thanks for your service but you are being a jackass.

Ashley Torres

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it. I laid out a few things to let people know what he is and what he is really about underneath the facade. Your vote is yours to do with what you want. It’s a waste if its for Russell, but it is still yours to waste.

Actual 1-22 Vet

Will you be voting in the Oklahoma primary?

Ashley Torres

No

Actual 1-22 Vet

Me either, so tell me again why your PERSONAL vendetta should mean anything to the voters of the 5th district in Oklahoma. I can answer that, it shouldn’t. The voters will decide and in reading this feed all you see is yes, Steve Russell has positioned himself to enter the national political stage. Barack Obama went from community

Actual 1-22 Vet

And furthermore it is the job of a battlefield commander to out his troops into harms way. As for the big memorial at the birthday palace, I was there too. Only the opposite side of the building is where we lived. We did patrols, raids and handled all perimeter security so you guys could sleep soundly with your working generator.

Ashley Torres

You don’t know me, where I lived, or what I had. “out his troops in harms way” Don’t know what that means.

Actual 1-22 Vet

Put, it has been corrected. You don’t know me either and I don’t believe you were actually a part of TF 1-22 at all.

Ashley Torres

That’s fine if you don’t believe it. I have said more than enough to prove I was there. Even wrote things that probably wouldn’t be in his book since I was accused of reciting things from his book by someone. I can’t be 100% on that because I haven’t read it. I guess I should believe you, either, then – that you were there? Personally, I don’t care if you were or weren’t. This is about the Russell and the fact he is not what Congress needs. When already have too many self-serving, camera-loving politicians in Washington. Our country needs politicians that don’t cover things up and lie because they’re worried about their image. We have enough of them in Congress already and look where our country is now.

Actual 1-22 Vet

How do people get elected to US Congress? By becoming known right? You are faulting him for doing what every politician before him has done. John McCain chose to stay in captivity because his daddy got a message over to him saying something along the lines of, “if you accept early release you will have no career in politics.” Doing what needs to be done to get elected doesn’t change anything about the person trying to be elected. Out of 600 or so politicians in Washington currently I would throw at least 90% out to start fresh. We start fresh by electing people who know how to lead. So by your posts I would assume you were headquarters company, name suggests female but I would also assume your name is not Ashley Torres.

Actual 1-22 Vet

For the record I think McCain is a POS.

Ashley Torres

I’d throw 90% out, too, and I wouldn’t add to the problem by sending someone like Russell. He would only add to the problem – guaranteed. So many are fooled by him.

Actual 1-22 Vet

By your impossible standard no person with political aspirations can position themselves to run and win. It’s not like LTC Russell requested to be sent to Tikrit Iraq where he knew he would play a critical role in the capture of Saddam. Fate and faith led him to where he is, why not use it to get elected? Ah, hell… Done talking with you, thanks for the chat.

Guest

Do you know what this is a picture of Torres?

SFC Munoz,( Ret ) C Co 1/22

No, You did not prove you were there. Tell us, who ( what unit ) Did you serve with ? Where where you posted ? As I remember, not to many females did combat patrols with us INFANTRY guys that fought next to LTC Russell. And not to take away from the Female warriors that had to return fire when attacked … But at that time females were not part of any assault force. So as a FOB and PX ground pounder… I have no clue as to how you seen LTC Russell do any wrong? He was ALWAYS – EVERY SINGLE DAY- OUT SIDE THE WIRE IN COMBAT OR CHECKING UNANNOUNCED ON HIS TROOPS ! He even snuck up on one of the SSG’s in my company that was at an fuel point out post, and relieved him of duty for sun bathing.. LTC RUSSELL was no joke !

Ashley Torres

I am not going to tell you my name, my gender, what size boot I wear or anything else. It is not about me. Have a great weekend.

SFC Munoz,( Ret ) C Co 1/22

Of course not ! Because you are a liar.And just like every cyber bully out there you hide behind your screen with threats and lies. In a weak attempt to mud sling. You do not back your statements with facts. You are not who you claim to say you are. You did not serve with us. YOU WERE NOT THERE. YOU ARE ONLY HER TO sway public opinion of a man that served his country with honor and respect and WILL CONTINUE to do so in public office. This is about you.. You fail to prove your self. You can not prove anything you post here. Yet LTC RUSSELL has a military record that speaks for its self.. His men defend him as he defended us in COMBAT. He he took an oath to defend our great country… that oath has no time limits… He will serve us in office as he did in command. My weekend is great because of the men and women I served with..

Ashley Torres

Again, are the all caps to simulate you yelling? Hilarious. I am here to inform people about Russell. Unless y’all want another self-serving man in Congress I suggest everyone seek another candidate.

Brandon Lloyd

Brother dont waste your time. She said she wasnt voting but then said she would not send him to washington. This is either someone from another campaign which really saddens me a group would go so low. Its not hard to get a BN roster and call troops that were given field grades or some kind of trouble and would have negative things to say. Thats why she keeps saying there are many that have our view and there are others that think like her. Thats the people she got the very shallow details from. The other possibility is its a staff dude from BDE or even Div HQ that sat in on command updates doing power point slides daily and would have had some interaction with him. Either way this person has spent a whole lot of time tracking the last 10 years of his life for some reason. I wonder if anyone was making these same claims during his other election. If not why not? Someone with this kind of agenda would not just stay quiet. She says over and over how he was planning the whole time for post retirement. Of course he was, I did the same for myself and my family. There was no way for anyone to know day to day what was coming for us “Regulars.” He didnt know months earlier Saddam was gonna be caught and all that followed and if he did know then it sounds like there was a whole bunch of corruption climbing up the chain. Which there still we were a BN so would have been taking corrupt orders and not giving them. She mentioned where Bde was located and Col Hickey by name so that would be my guess or a campaign volunteer for an opponent that has plenty of free internet time because noone is stopping by HQ to ask for yard signs or decals for her candidate. No clue, not worth getting upset over. No possible way it will hurt him. If she was anyone of importance she would not be posting comments. The competition would be chasing her down to do TV spots and everything else with the info she claims to have from people she wont name, including her ID. What her fear. If your so strong in your beliefs, you would have no issue sharing them with people who know you

Brandon Lloyd

Do you know when and where this was taken Torres?

Ashley Torres

Russell could possibly go to Congress to not only represent constituents of the 5th district. He, or whomever, is elected will be casting votes that will affect all Americans. People need to know that he will cover up things (watched it happen numerous times) and file false reports to protect his image (seen that, too). Every U.S. Congressman and Senator casts votes that impact all of America, not just their constituents. Obama – shitiest president ever! Will be glad when he is gone.

SFC Munoz,( Ret ) C Co 1/22

Ashley< Who are you really < Who are you really working for ? You obviously have no clue of what Lt. Col. Russell did in iraq ! I highly doubt you even served ! He served with honer and demanded that his soldiers did the same. His standards can not be bought or falsified. You mention things about our locations and duties, yet fail to divulge what if anything you did with our unit. Show face ! If anything you say is true you should be willing to tell us where you participated in this conflict. You are a total fake. . Or some one who did something real stupid under his command and was punished for it and is now trying to sling mud. But now that his soldiers are aware of it, we call you on on it. The mere fact that you call him "RUSSELL" proves your lack of discipline as a soldier… His name is LT. Col. Russell, ( RET ). And as for saying that Sen McCain requested to stay in captivity while a POW… Are you freaking serious… Go back to playing CALL OF DUTY and stop bashing real warriors ! You have no idea what its like to deploy and serve with honor !

Ashley Torres

Come on now. 1. Sen McCain’s name never came out of my mouth. Someone else mentioned him – I didn’t even reply to it. 2. I don’t care whether you think I served or not. I have more than proven that I have in some of the details I provided. Read this whole thread. 3. I call him Russell because after the things I saw I have no respect for him. I have a hard time even capitalizing his name. A lot of great Soldiers served in 1-22, did it with honor. Then there is Russell that calculated his every move with his post-retirement plan in mind. That put lives at risk whether you can see it not.

Again, I do not care what you think. I admire your loyalty as misguided as it is. I am not seeking attention. I am merely pointing out facts about Russell and if he can do the things while an office I have no doubt you will do the same as a Congressman. If he wins on June 24, rest assured I will add a whole lot more leading up to Nov.

SFC Munoz,( Ret ) C Co 1/22

Again… You prove nothing… empty threats of future posts.. Sounds like you are losing ground. If you had so much damning things to report and you were sincere in stoping his nomination. You would not wait. You are a fake.. thats about the only thing you proved. YOU DID NOT SERVE WITH US.. Nothing you state proves you served. Everything you state is common knowledge twisted.

Ashley Torres

Typical – attack the messenger and not the facts I pointed out. And I don’t make threats. Are you really trying to intimidate me? Laughable! Name calling? I remember you as being more mature. Again have a great weekend.

SFC Munoz,( Ret ) C Co 1/22

You are NOT A MESSENGER ! I never served with you !! The entire time I was there I never worked or spoke to any female soldiers except for one. and She passed away. So don’t make it sound like you know me ! And no, I have no business trying to intimidate any one ! I have never tried to intimidate anyone ! And if you really knew me… My maturity would never be questioned. You offer NO FACTS. AGAIN, WE HAVE NEVER SERVED TOGETHER! I DO NOT KNOW YOU !

Ashley Torres

Are all the caps to simulating you yelling? That’s funny. I offered plenty of facts. The problem is that you have no knowledge of the things I mentioned, so you cannot comment on them. No problem, I understand. Again, have a great weekend.

Mathew Prahl

If I recall division gave the order that all company level leaders got those types of awards. He couldn’t write himself awards.

If you fault an infantry officer for deeds or daring do, then you aught to remember the proud and heroic history of the US military. Anyone who left the safety of those compounds put themselves in mortal danger.

Brave men demand brave leaders.

Ashley Torres

All leaders got the bronze star. It was the norm. V devices were not. And oh, he tried to get himself the Silver Star. I will leave other names peoples names out of this.

CSK4REP

I am concerned about all of the votes he missed (some say several hundred)) while promoting his book.

Ashley Torres

I haven’t looked into his actual voting record, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Read my other posts/replies on this article. He is self-serving and most of what he does is to benefit him. He is not what we need in the US Congress.

This is history ! History that Lt Col Russell and the men he commanded made. I do not recall having worked with you. So I have no idea who you are. You were NOT in our unit. So either you are some one working for his opponents or .. ??? Honestly I have no idea what your intent is. But You can not claim to have worked with Lt Col Russell and say he is not a man of honor and respect ! This fact is documented … Get your facts straight !

Ashley Torres

My information comes from my time in Iraq.

Samual Siqueido

Torres is a fraud. Ashley Torres is actually Joseph Griffin in Oklahoma City. Is This True?

Ashley Torres

It’s not true and I am not and do not know any of the candidates running for the 5th District. I I have made that really clear, so I am not smearing those other people. You are trying to, though, by affiliating them with me.

SFC Munoz,( Ret ) C Co 1/22

ashley what unit did you serve with ? Were you part of the MWR team ? Did you work in the PX ? No one knows you ! No one claims to have had you in one of their units… this speaks for its self !

Actual 1-22 Vet

Ashley Torres, first off read some history before claiming you know it all about LTC Steve Russell. 1-22 INF was part of Task-force Iron-horse or the US Army’s 4th infantry Division during deployment to Iraq from March of 2003 to March of 2004. Taskforce Ironhorse division HQ was in Tikrit Iraq and 1-22 was the infantry battalion conducting operations there and everywhere within about a 100 mile radius. Saddam Hussein was captured in Oct. of 2003 by the Raider Brigade or 1st Brigade of the 4ID. The 1 from 1-22 stands for 1st Brigade. We got the credit but we all know TF-141 had the pleasure of pulling Saddam out of the hole. I won’t get into details but you really should read his book, “We Got Him”, it is a great read and lets you get to know what kind of man he really is. Steve Russell is a leader unlike the clowns running the show in Washington right now. A vote for him is a vote for a better America. You can vote for one of the other guys who have used smear tactics and get more of the same from your Oklahoma US Senate representative.. Or you can vote for Steve Russell and see a man who will go to Washington a strong, God-fearing principled Conservative who will fight for a better America that will not be changed by Washington politics. He will fight for the people just like he fought for our great nation. He is a man of integrity and will not be bullied by anyone in Washington. God Bless sir and Good luck!

Actual 1-22 Vet

Also the key word in LTC Russell’s book title is WE, he has never claimed that he physically captured Saddam Hussein. Without the part he played it may not have happened though.

Ashley Torres

Thank you for the history lesson, but I was there, too. I don’t need to read the book, nor will I help him profit from it.

Mathew Prahl

I served under LTC Russell both in Iraq and when we returned to Fort Hood.
If asked I would follow him back into hell.

Ashley Torres

I am sure many would, but I also know for a fact that many would not. The ones who would not are the ones that say more of him in Iraq.

Mr. Billckston

Once freedom is confused with power, the word “liberty” can be easily twisted toward centralizing the control that destroys true liberty.

Torr Visi

Where unleashed by liberty, the impersonal forces of competitive free enterprise are proven to deliver better standards of living than those preaching centralized control could even begin to imagine.

Ashley Torres

All caps – again? Are you yelling again? Sad. Anyway… People, if you do not want the same old kind of people in Congress, then find someone else to vote for. I have seen cover ups, lies on reports submitted to higher headquarters, etc. Sound familiar? Typical politician behavior that we are trying to get rid of in Washington. Russell will only add to it.